Activist calls for EU to acknowledge Turkish Cypriots' rights amid OTS controversy

In a strongly worded letter to Josep Borrell Fontelles, the High Representative of the European Union, Ibrahim Kurtulus, a prominent Turkish American community activist, expressed his deep disappointment with the EU’s stance on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) participation in the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).

Kurtulus criticized the EU’s refusal to acknowledge the Turkish Cypriots’ sovereign equality, pointing to the longstanding obstacles faced by the community since the 2004 UN-proposed Annan Plan referendum. The Turkish Cypriots, who overwhelmingly voted in favor of the plan, were thwarted by Greek Cypriots’ rejection. Despite this, the EU admitted the Greek-administered “Republic of Cyprus,” which Kurtulus argues rewarded obstructionist behavior while sidelining the Turkish Cypriot people.

“While the EU criticizes Turkish Cypriot participation in international organizations like the OTS, it ignores the ongoing unlawful isolation of Turkish Cypriots, which amounts to a gross violation of their human rights,” Kurtulus wrote.

He emphasized that the Turkish Cypriots’ inclusion in the OTS should be a natural step, reflecting the broader need for equal representation on the international stage. “The EU must recognize the realities of the island and abandon outdated, biased policies that dismiss Turkish Cypriots’ inherent rights,” Kurtulus urged, calling for a more balanced and fair approach to Cyprus’ divided status.